Paul Lambert: ‘No point being scared of City’

Paul Lambert isn't daunted by the challenge posed by Manchester City []

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero came off the bench to fire City into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup on Tuesday with a late goal at Arsenal.

Aguero, 23, cost a cool £38 million from Atletico Madrid in the summer – a figure which dwarfs the combined outlay on Lambert’s squad, many of whom have come up with the club from League One and the Championship through successive promotions.

“I don’t lose any sleep over it,” said Lambert. “Manchester City are where they are for a reason and have got some top players.

“They are a fabulous club with a manager in Roberto Mancini who has seen it and done it.

“But he doesn’t need to make any apologies for how City do business because, if I could afford somebody at £35 m, I would do the same.

“If somebody injected a lot of money into the club, it is their money and they can do what they want – they could change the manager, they could turn the whole club around.

They have got a hell of a side, but if we start getting worried about them or feel intimidated then there is no point in turning up

Paul Lambert

“That is the nature of the game and so I don’t really worry about City’s spending spree.

“They have got a hell of a side, but if we start getting worried about them or feel intimidated then there is no point in turning up.”